As one of Hollywood’s top actors, Jeff Bridges deserves nothing but praise and respect. He is emotional, strong, sensitive and can nimbly leap from character to character.

On Bridges’ debut disc, “Be Here Soon,” he delivers those qualities, but only in the writing.

Bridges is a good songwriter with interesting ideas about the roles and personas we all assume to get through the day.

His vocals, on the other hand, leave lots to be desired. The man sings like a wounded dog.

His top-flight back-up band is headed by ex-Doobie bro Michael McDonald on keyboards and additional vocals. David “The Sperminator” Crosby lends harmonic support on the song “September Brings.”

There is no question that “She Lay Her Whip Down” is the album’s gem. It’s one song where Bridges sounds totally comfortable.

Bridges, who wrote six of the nine songs on “Be Here Soon,” also plays six-string acoustic guitar on all the tunes.

The more you play this disc and listen to Bridges heartfelt lyrics and his band’s excellent musicianship, the more forgiving you’ll be toward his voice.

THINK BEFORE YOU THINK Danu Shanachie.

If you buy one Celtic disc for this year’s St. Paddy’s Day festivities, it should be “Think Before You Think” by the Waterford-based traditional band Danu.

This excellent collection includes fast-tempo reels and jigs, as well as sad laments and airs.

The 13-tracks of “Think” are mostly instrumentals, with vocalist Ciaran O Gealbhain occasionally stepping into the spotlight. This is a polished, confident album that establishes Danu as one of Ireland’s very best traditional acts.

Like the seminal Chieftains, Danu is interested in musical virtuosity and preservation of its heritage. Of the songs on which Gealbhain sings, listen for the exquisite lullaby “An Paistin Fionn,” which is sung in Gaelic.

This is a no-risk disc for lovers of Celtic music.

PIECES IN A MODERN STYLE William Orbit ½ Maverick.

Music pioneer Wendy Carlos demonstrated in the ’60s that classical music could remain classical with modern arrangements and synthesized, electronic instrumentation on her “Switched-On Bach.”

Thirty years later, Madonna’s wunder-producer William Orbit — without the aid of an orchestra — furthers Carlos’ work on his release “Pieces In a Modern Style.”

On this pretty, very New Age record, Orbit highlights the melodies of tunes written by Barber, Ravel, Vivaldi and Beethoven as he attempts to create clean, organic orchestral music with electronics.

This is a soothing album, successfully replicating natural music with electronic pulses.

No doubt Orbit will take abuse from the throb and bleep dance world for being too soft, while the classical world will deride the record as a pure gimmick. But if you give this disc the Louis Armstrong acid test — if it sounds good, it is good — then “Pieces in A Modern Style” is a good record.

It ain’t for music purists, but others will be intrigued.

THE LOVIN’ SPOONFUL GREATEST HITS The Lovin’ Spoonful Buddha Records.

The Lovin’ Spoonful will take their place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when they are inducted March 6 at the Waldorf-Astoria here in New York.

In stores today is a fast, 26-song greatest-hits compilation that eloquently states why the band deserves the honor.

In the Spoonful’s three years of existence, between ’65 and ’68, the group helped reclaim American radio from the British.

The Spoonful dominated the charts with an extraordinary string of hits including “Do You Believe in Magic,” “Daydream,” “Nashville Cats” and their quintessential New York song “Summer In The City” — all featured here.

Listening to this authoritative collection, it’s clear why many love the Spoonful, even after all these years.